EAST DOWN COMBINE
Reports by Clifford Browne
Gordon Bros & Sons Finish in Style
The final club race of the East Down Combine’s 2013 Young Bird season was from Mount Charles and was scheduled to be flown on Saturday 7th September but the weather was so bad for that day that the weather committee opted to basket Saturday night for a liberation on Sunday 8th of September. The weather early on Sunday morning was not ideal so the convoy was held until 10.30 am when the 1800 plus birds were away into a light Westerly wind which again saw the leading birds make velocities in the 1600s.
Gordon Bros & sons have had a magnificent Young Bird season and again this week top the Open and not only that but take the top six places in both the open and section and this gives them their 4th Consecutive Open win, a truly marvellous performance.
The next three places in the open go to the Portavogie partnership of B & J Donnan with three together and this is followed by a bird to Tony Smith of Downpatrick with the remaining birds in the top twenty of the Open going to the Cloughey, Portavogie and Killyleagh Central clubs.
Now although this was the last club race as such the Combine season ends next week with the 2nd Derby race from Skibbereen “The Ken McConaghie Skibbereen Young Bird Derby” followed the week after by the final National for the INFC also from Skibbereen.
The top open and section velocities from Mount Charles were:
East Down Combine Open
08/09/2013 2nd Mount Charles YB
117 Members 1831 Birds Wind Light Westerly
1 Gordon Bros & Sons Killyleagh Central HPS 1667.364
2 Gordon Bros & Sons Killyleagh Central HPS 1667.203
3 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1666.402
4 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1666.402
5 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1665.761
6 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1664.322
7 B & J Donnan Portavogie 1654.051
8 B & J Donnan Portavogie 1653.583
9 B & J Donnan Portavogie 1653.583
10 T. Smith Downpatrick HPS 1653.281
11 B Young Portavogie 1651.737
12 B Young Portavogie 1649.441
13 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1648.177
14 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1648.177
15 J & R Young Portavogie 1647.976
16 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1647.863
17 J & R Young Portavogie 1647.824
18 Gordon Bros & Sons Killyleagh Central HPS 1647.394
19 J & R Young Portavogie 1647.367
West Section 33 Members 684 Birds Wind Light Westerly
1 J. Young & Ptnrs Dundonald HPS 1645.036
2 J. Young & Ptnrs Dundonald HPS 1644.104
3 McCartan & Woodsides Crossgar HPS 1644.054
4 McCartan & Woodsides Crossgar HPS 1643.889
5 Caskey & Adair Crossgar HPS 1643.878
6 J. Young & Ptnrs Dundonald HPS 1643.639
7 R. Irwin Dundonald HPS 1641.664
8 R. Irwin Dundonald HPS 1641.664
9 R. Irwin Dundonald HPS 1639.484
10 R. Irwin Dundonald HPS 1639.173
11 B. Hogg & Sons Newtownbreda HPS 1636.259
12 B. Hogg & Sons Newtownbreda HPS 1636.259
East Section 84 Members 1147 Birds Wind Light Westerly
1 Gordon Bros & Sons Killyleagh Central HPS 1667.364
2 Gordon Bros & Sons Killyleagh Central HPS 1667.203
3 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1666.402
4 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1666.402
5 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1665.761
6 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1664.322
7 B & J Donnan Portavogie 1654.051
8 B & J Donnan Portavogie 1653.583
9 B & J Donnan Portavogie 1653.583
10 T. Smith Downpatrick HPS 1653.281
11 B Young Portavogie 1651.737
12 B Young Portavogie 1649.441
The Best From the Clubs from Mt. Charles
Annalong J Newell 1644, 1581, 1578. Annsborough G & P Brown 1621, P Brown & son 1620, M Croskery 1620. Ballylesson 6 members sent 78 birds 1st & 2nd A Cousins & sons 1626, 1615, 3rd J Patterson 1609. Ballynahinch J Abernethy 1620, R Hunter 1617, J Abernethy 1617. Ballywalter 1st Sam Regan with a Blue w/f cock 1618 a very steady racer and winning his first club race of the season a Cattrysse cross. Last week’s winning loft sees Winston and Hugh McMaster continue with their in form young birds two blue hens here taking 2nd and 3rd on 1616, 1587. Bangor Burgess & Brennan 1633, 1633, 1633 Cloughey Gordon Bros & sons 1666, 1666, 1665. Comber F Gilmore 1605, R Johnston 1601, F Gilmore 1570. Crossgar McCartan & Woodsides 1644, 1643 Caskey & Adair 1643. Donaghadee Ferguson & Wilkinson 1613 with a Gerald Delaney pigeon and 3rd on 1610 with a red cheq John Joby hen. In 2nd spot it was E D & K Allan & sons 1610.8. Downpatrick T Smyth 1653, 1615, J Quinn &son 1612. Drumaness E McLaughlin 1576, J Kirk & son 1575, 1565. Dundonald J Young & ptnrs 1645, 1644, 1643. Dundrum J Maguire & ptnrs 1635, S Foster, Connor & Perry 1546, J Maguire & ptnrs 1541. Killyleagh Central Gordon bros & sons 1667, 1667 & 1647. Millisle R Strain & son 1607, 1560, J Rankin 1556. Newcastle R McVeigh & son 1524, 1523 1455. Newtownbreda B Hogg & sons 1636, 1636, 1629. Portavogie B & J Donnan 1654, 1653, 1653. Tyrella 1st C Mc Manus & Dtr 1521.096, 2nd D Mc Nabb & Ptrs 1504.319, 3rd C Mc Manus & Dtr 1451.905.
The EDC Breeder /Buyer was run in conjunction with the Skibbereen Derby on August 31st and the result was as follows:
1st raced by D&R Topping (Ballynahinch) Bred By R Topping & Son Vel 1387 Ring Number GB13 L 07579 each winning £443.
2nd raced by P Mc Cullough & Dtr (Downpatrick) Bred By R Moore & Son Vel 1198 Ring Number I.H.U 13 N 22689 each winning £ 221.
3rd raced by D&R Topping (Ballynahinch) Bred By D&R Topping Vel 1189 Ring Number I.H.U13 N07484 getting both breeder and racer a total of £266.
4th raced by B&J Donnan (Portavogie) Bred By J Abernethy Vel 1082 Ring Number GB 13 D23687 Each winning £90.
The team behind the organising and running of the E.D.C. Breeder Buyer - Rodney McCormick, Paddy Mc Comb, Dorothy Smyth & Dolen Croskery would like to thank members of the N.I.P.A., Ulster Fed and Scottish fanciers of the Ayrshire Fed for their support when the 41 young birds raised the sum of £1,775 which was raced for on Sat 31st August from Skibbereen their Y/B Derby. Thanks is also extended to Sean Milligan for bringing the pens. Congratulations to all the winners.
East Down Combine Open
31/08/2013 1st Skibbereen YB Derby
128 Members 1404 Birds Wind Westerly
1 E1 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1491.623 b B £108.20 £326.35
2 W1 Caskey & Adair Crossgar HPS 1486.776 £0.00 £164.55
3 E2 F Gilmore Comber Social 1479.873 £0.00 £148.60
4 W2 B & G Cochrane Comber Social HPS 1476.104 £0.00 £115.64
5 W3 B. Hogg & Sons Newtownbreda HPS 1471.462 £0.00 £86.73
6 E3 M.Croskery Annsborough HPS 1450.167 abc AB £178.63 £265.08
7 W4 A Cousins & Sons Ballylesson HPS 1435.404 £0.00 £67.82
8 W5 B. Hogg & Sons Newtownbreda HPS 1432.011 £0.00 £64.85
9 W6 B & G Cochrane Comber Social HPS 1431.153 £0.00 £64.85
10 W7 Kincaid & McCann Dundonald HPS 1430.932 £0.00 £64.85
11 W8 B & G Cochrane Comber Social HPS 1426.953 £0.00 £51.88
12 W9 M & A Johnston Ballylesson HPS 1419.630 £0.00 £51.88
13 W10 W & L Robinson Hillfoot HPS 1415.013 b B £52.91 £104.79
14 W11 J Patterson Ballylesson HPS 1412.191 abc ABCD £210.10 £261.98
15 W12 A Cousins & Sons Ballylesson HPS 1412.028 £0.00 £51.88
16 E4 K.Rooney,Son & Dtr Annalong HPS 1410.733 £0.00 £54.30
17 W13 S Casement & Son Ballylesson HPS 1405.201 n CD £89.18 £128.09
18 W14 J.Abernethy Ballynahinch HPS 1403.706 b £15.13 £54.04
19 E5 D.Croskery & Son Annsborough HPS 1392.861 abc n ABCD £223.78 £274.03
20 W15 C & D Smyth & Sons Ballylesson HPS 1389.635 £0.00 £38.91
East Down Combine Open
31/08/2013 Talbenny YB Derby
89 Members 465 Birds Wind Westerly
1 W1 K & B McConaghie Ballylesson HPS 1163.539 c n £40.40 £153.98
2 W2 M & A Johnston Ballylesson HPS 1148.416 £0.00 £70.86
3 E1 D.Croskery & Son Annsborough HPS 1136.294 abc AB £119.00 £176.10
4 E2 J. McCartan Annalong HPS 1125.697 bc BCD £153.82 £195.86
5 W3 T. Marshall & Son Newtownbreda HPS 1125.531 £0.00 £28.15
6 W4 T. Marshall & Son Newtownbreda HPS 1120.365 £0.00 £20.43
7 E3 R.J.Keown Annsborough HPS 1119.291 £0.00 £27.78
8 W5 J & H Thompson Ballylesson HPS 1112.880 a £5.20 £24.73
9 E4 H. McDowell Annalong HPS 1110.451 N £47.50 £71.02
10 W6 B C T Foulis & Gill Dundonald HPS 1107.423 abc n AB £71.83 £91.36
11 E5 R. McDowell & Son Annsborough HPS 1101.976 abc ABC £98.20 £117.30
12 W7 Mackey & Lockhart Ballylesson HPS 1098.529 bc B £34.40 £50.93
13 E6 W & N Cully Portavogie 1082.500 b n £41.10 £60.20
14 E7 J. McCartan Annalong HPS 1076.699 bc BCD £87.23 £106.33
15 W8 J Patterson Ballylesson HPS 1072.299 AB £12.71 £28.33
16 E8 M. Croskery Annsborough HPS 1068.456 abc ABC £57.04 £74.72
17 E9 R. McDowell & Son Annsborough HPS 1064.998 abc ABC £42.34 £60.02
18 E10 J Rankin Millisle & District HPS 1062.707 abc ABCD £61.28 £78.96
19 W9 Burns Bros Comber Social 1060.115 C £11.80 £27.42
20 W10 Burns Bros Comber Social 1058.554 £0.00 £15.62
East Down2bird News
The 2 bird results from the two Derby Races were:
SKIBBEREEN
1st F Gilmore 1479.873 (3rd Open)
2nd J Patterson 1412.191 (14th Open)
3rd D Croskery & son 1392. 861 (19th open)
4th D & R Topping 1387.426 (22nd Open)
5th S Brown & sons 1371.529 (27th Open)
6th D&R Topping 1294.393
TALBENNY
1st K&B McConaghie &son 1163.539 (1st open)
2nd D Croskery &son 1136.294 (3rd open)
3rd R McDowell &son 1101.976 (11th open)
4th T Marshall &son 1049.559 (24th open)
5th M Jennings 1045.492 (25th open)
6th J&J Hollinger 983.722
The much sought after Benzing System sponsorship prize from the Skibbereen Derby was won by Annsborough’s D Croskery & son who were 19th open and 3rd 2 bird club from Skibb and congratulations to them on this achievement. The velocity was 1392.861 ypm.
Once again note the level of the competition in these races from Skibbereen the 2 bird winner was 3rd open EDC and from Talbenny the 2 bird winner also 1st open EDC you’ll not get much better than that.
Sam Regan reports From Around The Ards Peninsula
Gordon Brothers and Sons win Fermoy
The Peninsula members’ sixth race of the young bird season saw them in Fermoy for the next stage of the year. With all of the recent races having a very helping home bound wind the scene was set again for yet another fast race. However things turned out a very different when the strings were cut and the pigeons started to leave the lorries, the birds were savagely attacked by at least three PEREGRINE FALCONS causing death, injury and pigeons going everywhere to try and avoid their deadly strikes. This following an earlier release by the Ulster Fed at the same race point and later the N.I.P.A. and both had good races, so we were the meat in the sandwich and a erratic race ensued for the East Down Combine members. The birds that made it home to their lofts appeared nervous, no wonder after this ordeal and many members had several birds missing at the close of day. Alas this is now a very common event for fanciers all over the country and driving many pigeon men to leave the sport they love. What can be done to stop this daily peril?
Now back to the race and returning to the top are the Gordon Family timing a real good bird to win the Cloughey club the Amalgamation and top the East Down Combine and the team have been having many fine results with their youngsters and very well done on your latest victory.
Portavogie club winner Leslie Young is runner up in the Peninsula and 3rd open EDC and had a second pigeon in at 5th Amalgamation, 6th open to complete a good day.
It's back to Cloughey and to the loft of John Hall and son Gerard 3rd Amalgamation, 4th open with another bird clocked for 7th Amalgamation, 13th open with the teams third pigeon being 13th Amalgamation - again good racing.
Walker and Niall Cully from Portavogie continue to turn out good results with their young bird team and on this occasion have to birds at 4th Amalgamation and 9th Amalgamation as well as taking 5th and 17th open in the Combine.
It's back to Cloughey with Mark Adair and his sons assisted by Mark's father Jim who clocked two pigeons, the first taking 6th Amalgamation, 8th open and their other is 14th in the Peninsula.
8th position is taken by the winning pigeon into the Ballywalter club, a Blue Hen raced by the Father and son team of Winston and Hugh McMaster and they also lift 14th open with this one - nice racing.
Billy Donnan is next in the result with two birds close together in 10th & 11th Amalgamation with the first pigeon finishing 20th open for this Portavogie member. The result is completed by last week's winning combination in at 12th Drew Harper and Martin Young and they keep up their good season.
Full Result 48 sent 1,166.
1st Gordon Bros & sons 1440.
2nd & 5th L. Young 1435, 1433.
3rd, 7th 13th J. Hall & son 1435, 1427, 1397.
4th & 9th W& N. Cully 1434, 1412.
6th & 14th M. Adair & sons 1432 & 1396.
8th W. McMaster & son 1425.
10th &11th B&J. Donnan 1410,1409.
12th Harper & Young 1409.
Three Bird Club
1st. W& N. Cully 1330 A.B.C.
2nd. R&G. Thompson 1325 A.B.C.
3rd. G T. Coffey 1321 A.B.C. NOM.
Next week sees the first two Derbies from Talbenny and Skibbereen.
Harmony Lofts Hot Spot Result Weekend 7/9/13
This was our final Hot Spot of the Year. As we had split racing again, we have two Hot Spots.
Friday’s Race.
Taking top spot is the fine racing loft of G & A Campbell of Armagh winning 1st Club vel 1152 to collect £50. Second place goes to J McAlorum & Son of the Grosvenor club with bird 23533 vel 1138 & 6th Club winning £30. Third prize is won by G McEvoy, Beechpark with bird ring No.23576 vel 1137 to win £20.
Sunday’s Race.
With much faster velocities the birds made good time from Mount Charles. The winning vel is Tommy Horner of Crossgar with bird ring No.23318 vel 1615 collecting £50. Second place goes to A & A Cheevers, Crossgar with bird ring No.23666 vel 1575 to win £30. Third spot is taken by C McManus & Dtr to win 1st Club Tyrella with bird ring No.23218 vel 1521.
Congratulations to Cormac O'Hare, Newry on winning 1st Club, 14th Open & 1st North-South Federation from Penzance Young Bird National with bird ring No.23336.
Loretta Brennan
It is with great sadness that I have to report the death of Loretta Brennan, wife of Danny Brennan of Bangor’s Burgess & Brennan partnership, after a long illness which she bore with great courage & dignity. On behalf of the Bangor club and the wider pigeon fraternity I extend my deepest sympathy to Danny, Edel, Shane, Kerri and the extended family circle at this sad time.
Finally this week I have had a call from a Terry Markwick who is the County Volunteer Co-ordinator for Argyll and Bute. H4H charity and is organising a pigeon sale on the 20th of October proceeds to go to this organisation and would like to hear from fanciers interested in supporting this event. For all further details Terry can be contacted on tel. 07825397249 or e-mail
Well that’s it for this week and almost another season with the final event from Skibbereen being the only remaining race in the EDC 2013 programme.
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